Match fundraiser launched to 'Keep Portsmouth Skating' at Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond

PORTSMOUTH– Strawbery Banke Museum is pleased to announce the 2026 Rink Match Challenge, a matching fundraiser issued by Rink Services Group (RSG), the company that manages Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond. Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000, from Friday, Jan. 16, through Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, and can be made at the Admissions Desk in the Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center or online at StrawberyBanke.org/rink-match-fundraiser.

The fundraiser will help ensure that Community Skate (free admission) sessions on Saturday mornings from 8-10 a.m. remain free, keeping the rink accessible to everyone in the Portsmouth community.

“At Rink Services Group, giving back is part of who we are, " said Gary Warriner, Founder of Rink Services Group. “Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond is a cherished community space, and we believe it should be accessible to everyone, no matter their financial situation.”

“Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond is a beloved winter tradition in Portsmouth, bringing families and friends together to make memories,” said Linnea Grim, president and CEO, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair. “This match fundraiser is a wonderful opportunity for the community to help ensure that free Saturday skating continues for everyone to enjoy. We are incredibly grateful to Gary Warriner and Rink Services Group for their ongoing generosity.”

Labrie Family Skate is open seasonally, offering learn-to-skate lessons, private rink rentals, and special programming for skaters of all abilities.

Donations to the Rink Match Challenge can be made at the Admissions Desk, 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth, or online at StrawberyBanke.org/rink-match-fundraiser.

For hours, programs, and updates, visit StrawberyBanke.org/skate.

About Strawbery Banke Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a nearly 10-acre history museum in downtown Portsmouth, NH, interpreting over 350 years of history—from Indigenous peoples to the present day. The Museum features historic houses on their original sites, heirloom gardens, traditional crafts, and costumed roleplayers sharing stories of Puddle Dock residents. Strawbery Banke welcomes visitors, members, schoolchildren, and volunteers year-round for daily programs, exhibits, skating, and signature events. Funding is provided in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom; and the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program.